Can packaging wrapper and can package formed therefrom



July 23, 1957 c.v T. WALTER ETAL 2,800,224

l CAN PACKAGING WRAPPER AND `GAN PACKAGE THEREFROM med nay 18, 195s. 2 sheets-sheet 1 T 1 J5? 9 lf- #M5 7Z '77K l? 1.4/ 72 65, ff

ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. T. WALTER ET AL INVENTOR karleo" Zylar Wzlef; 6.-

July 23, 1957 CAN PACKAGING WRAPPER AND CAN PACKAGE FORMED THEREFROM Filed May 18. 1953 rates Claims.` (Cl.I 20G-65) The invention rel-ates generally to the art of manufacturing and han-dling cans and primarily seeks to provide a novel form of wrapper which may be employed in pro-vidv`atent ing a novel form of can package which is compactand sturdy and subject to being handled-and stored with yfacility and' in a very sanitary manner. l

It is known that cans can be handled and storedl with great facility,` and maintained in a sanitary condition, if they are enclosed in bags or wrappers which not only hold the cans in an easily handled unit, but also enclose them against ingress of dust and other foreign matter. A purpose of the present invention is to provide aV novel form of great wrapper which can be applied easily and rapidly about an .arranged pack-age complement of cans to seal them against ingress of foreign matter in a dustp-roof package, and a novel package thusV formed which can be handled with great facility and which can be opened with great facility when it is desired to expose the cans for use.

An obje-ct of the invention is to provid-e a can package of the character stated wherein there is included a rip strip which can be torn out eas-ily and rapidly to open the pack-age and which is disposed approximately 'at one end of the package so that when it is torn out it will permit telescoping of the whole of the encasing envelope oir the arranged cans in the direction of the axes of the cans, leaving only the end closure beneath the exposed can-s.

Another object of the invention is'to provide 4a can package of the character stated "'wherein the ripstrip'terminates at the side seam of the package and is free of'adhesion to the underlyingpackaging stock so that a person .seeking to open the package by ripping out the Vrip strip c-an easily insert a linger und-er the free terminus ofthe strip and grasp the same preparatory to said ripping `out of the strip. Y

Another object of the invention is to4 provide a can package of the -characterstated wherein there is included a reinforcing strip disposed at an end of the package where it is folded over can flanges presented at saidend in a manner for assuring against tearing of said' can anges through the wall of the package.

y Another object of the invention is to provide a can package of the character stated wherein the reinforcing strip is adhered to the wall of the package throughout a portion only of the width of the strip, the non-.adhered portion of the strip width being folded over the can flanges and free to move relative to the wrapper wall port-ions overlying the same at the end ofthe package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a package of the character stated wherein the rip strip is provided at one end extremity of the package and the reinforcing strip is provided at the other end extremity of the package.

Another object of the invention is to prov-ide a can package 0f the character stated wherein there is included an end closure sheet at each end of the package,` end ma-rgin portions at two opposed sides at one end of the package being folded over and adhered to the end closure sheet at the particular end, and the remaining opposed end margin portions at said end being folded over and `adhered to said end closure sheet and also to the rst mentioned folded over end margin portions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can package of the character stated wherein the overfolding of the end margin portions aty each end thereof provides at each corner of a given end a triple thickness triangular corner overfold denedby two diverging fold lines and the edge extremity connecting said fold lines, and there being4 included inwardly of said triple thickness portion a triangular single thickness of the overfold-ed end margin portion adhered to the 'underlying end margin portion and forming a dust excluding seal over said connecting edge extremity.

yAnother object of the invention is to provide a can packaging wrapper comprising an elongated rectangle of paper having along each long side marginal edge a glue stripe, `said stripes being traversed at one end by a glue stripe extending along the marginal edge at said on-e end. i Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapper ofthe character stated including a rip strip adhered thereto and extending full length of the wrapper adjacent to and paralleling one of the side stripes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapper of the character stated wherein there is provided an unglued void in the traversing stripe through which the rip strip extends.v

Another object of the invention is to provide a` wrapper of the character stated including a reinforcing strip adhered to and extending' full length of the wrapper parallel oneI of the side stripes in position `for folding over and protecting can flanges in a finished package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrapper including a reinforcing strip of the character stated which is adhered to the wrapper throughout a portion only of the width of the strip so that t-heremain-der of the strip width will be free to move relative to the wrapper during the folding of the strip over can flanges in the making up of a package.

lAnother object of the invention is to provide a wrapper including .areinforci-ng strip of the character stated and wherein one of the side stripes of glue extends in part over the strip and in part over the wrapper beside the strip.

With the above and other objects in view that will appear hereinafter, the nature of the invention wil-l be more fully understood by following the detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

lFigure 1 isa plan view illustrating a wrapper embodying the invention,` parts being broken away. Figure 2 is an end edge view of the wrapper shown in Figure l, looking in the direction ofthe arrow 2, and parts being broken away.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a can package embodying the invention and the wrapper of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure'tv is an end view of the package shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 .is an enlarged fragmentary corner section showing the relation of the reinforcing strip and the flanges of cans atthe top of the package.

l Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary corner section showing the placement of the rip strip at the bottom of the package. A

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary end View showing one corner seal. at one end of the package.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the corner seal of Figure 7 before it is finally sealed down.

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed the wrapper in which the cans are packaged is shown in detail in Figures land 2, and the completed lcan package, and details thereof, are shown in Figures 3 through 8. It is to be understood that the wrapper can be prepared hy hand, or in any suitable machine structure, and a disclosure of one form of machine in which such wrappers can be prepared is to be found inthe copending application for United States Letters Patent Serial Number 355,705, filed by Heinrichk Ernst Haase on May 18, 1953, and entitled Wrapper Cutting, Glueing and Feeding Apparatus.

The limproved wrapper comprises an elongated rectangular body 5 of paper of suitablev weight, such as kraft paper having two long side edges 6fandV 7, and two short end edges 8 and 9. YSpaced inwardly from and paralleling the side edge 7 is a narrow rip strip 10, preferably formed of ber in tape form. The rip strip extends the full length of the wrapper, as will be apparent by reference to Figure 1, and is adhesively attached to the wrapper throughout the full length thereof in the manner indicated at 11 in Figure 2.

Spaced inwardly from and paralleling the other side edge 6 of the wrapper is a relatively wide reinforcing strip 12 of suitable readily bendable or foldable material such as kraft paper. This reinforcing strip preferably, but not necessarily, is equipped with a fold facilitating score line 13 extending along its central portion throughout the full length thereof. The inner longitudinal half only of the strip 12 is adhesively attached to the wrapper throughout the full length thereof in the manner indicated at 14 in Figure 2. In this'manner the other longitudinal half of the reinforcing strip 12 is left free as indicated at 15 in Figure 2 so that it'can move freely relative to the portion of the main body of the wrapper which it opposes. The purpose of the reinforcing strip and the particular formation and manner of attaching the same to the wrapperbody, and also the purpose of the rip strip 10 will become apparent as this description progresses.

A longitudinal glue stripe 16 is applied full-length along the side margin between the rip strip 10 and the adjacent side edge 7, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and a longitudinal glue stripe 17 is applied full length along the other side margin over the space between the side edge 6 and the adjacent reinforcing strip 12 and also over that portion of the strip 12 lying outwardly of the score line 13, or in other words that portion of the strip 12Wwhich is not adhered to the underlying wrapper body, as Vshown in said Figures 1 and 2.

A transverse glue stripe also is provided on the wrapper at one end only, this stripe 18 being applied on the same face of the wrapper as are the stripes 16 andV 17 and along the portion paralleling the end edge 9. This stripe 18 is terminated short of the side stripe 16 so as to leave a bare space 20 through which the'rip strip 10 extends. In this manner no glue striping is applied over the rip strip 10 where it extends to the edge 9 of the wrapper, and hence in the making up of the package the end extremity of the rip strip 10 will be free and not sealed down in the closure seam formed by sealing down of the transverse stripe 18 in the manner to be described hereinafter.

In arranging the cans C for packaging they preferably are made up in multiple tiers T separated byY tier sheets 21 with each tier comprising multiple rows R of cans Vnested and staggered as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 to form a compact package and with long rows placed at each of the extremities as viewed at the right and left in said figure so as to position cans directly in each corner. It will be apparent by reference to Figures '5 and 6 that the tier sheets 21 are centered with respect to the cross section of the package and are dimensioned so that their marginal edges will be spaced inwardly from the encasing wrapper, as indicated at 22., In addition to the intermediate tier sheets 21.placed between the tiers of cans as shown in FiguresV 5 and 6, end closure sheets 23 are placed over the ends of the cans in each endmost tier. These end closure sheets may be, and preferably 4 are, thicker than the ordinary or intermediate tier sheets 21.

In forming the package the wrapper is shaped in the form of a tube about the arranged cans and tier sheets, the ends being brought into overlapping relation to form a seam 24 secured by the sealing of the transverse glue stripe 18' down against the underlapped outer face of the other end of the wrapper. It is to be understood that this `seam may be arranged at one of the long sides of the package as shown in Figure 3, or it may be arranged at one of the short sides, according to the prevailing packaging practice. In either e case the end extremity of the tear strip 10 will be left free at the point 25 indicated in Figure 3, that is, not adhered to the underlying wrapper stock, so that a person seeking to open the package can readily insert a finger under the end of the rip strip and grip the same preparatory to tearing the same out. j Y

After the formation of the wrapper tube and the side seam 24 in the manner stated, the ends of the package will be sealed to complete the package. This may be accomplished 'at each end by first folding inthe opposed long side marginal edges as indicated at 26 in Figures '3 and 4, and then the opposed short side marginal edges 27, or this sequence may be reversed, if desired. In either case' the side glue stripes 16 or 17 willbe adhered to the underlying marginal portions of the end closure sheets 23.

Upon sealing the end of the package at which the reinforcing strip 12 is located, this being the end at which the can flanges 28 are presented, the reinforcing strip will be folded over the relatively sharp edges of the can flanges in the manner illustrated in Figure 5 so as to assure that said flanges will not cut through the wrapper during any ordinary handling and storage of `the can package. It is to be understood that the adhesive 14 by which the reinforcing strip 12 is attached to the wrapper body extends over only thatportion of the strip which is arranged vertically in Figure 5, the remainder or folded over portion of the strip being free of the wrapper so that it can move relative to the wrapper margin as it is folded over and thus not only facilitate the folding but also assure against binding and wrinkling.

While it is preferred that the glue stripes be applied mechanically, as by machineparts such as are disclosed in the beforementioned copending application for patent, and that the wrapper be thereafter promptly utilized to package cans while the glue remains in a desirably tacky state, it is to be understood that the glue stripes may be applied and thereafter hardened so that a moistening step just prior to making up of a package must be practiced, if desired. v

The overlap folding of the marginal edge extensions of the tube as shown at 26 and 27vin Figures 3, 4 and 6 results in the provision at each corner of the package of a triple thickness corner ovcrfold 29 defined by the two diverging fold lines 30 and 31 and the joining edge 32. At each corner the converging marginal folds 26 and 27 will, of course, be adhered to the underlying end closure sheet 23, and inwardly of the triple thickness portion referred to, there will be a triangular portion 33 of the marginal fold 27 adhered to the underlying portion of the marginal fold 26, the adhesion being provided by the inwardly presented exposed portion of the respective side stripe 16 or 17. It will be noted that each triangular portion 33 is defined by the beforementioned joining edge 32, the downwardly presented edge extremity of the marginal fold 27 and the edge extremity of the marginal fold 26 directed toward the right as viewed in Figure 7. See also Figure 8. This adhesion of the marginal folds 26 and 27 to the underlying end closure sheets 23, and the adhesion of the folds 26 and 27 together over the last mentioned triangular area 33 assures the provision of dust proof end closures for the can package, including the corners thereof.

whenk it is desired to apen. man package eompl'ea as shown in Figure 3 it is a simple matter to insert a finger under the free or non-gluedend extremity of the rip strip, gripthe same rmly, and tear it out. 'Ihis will separate the bottom end closure from the remainder of the packaging envelope close to the respective end closure sheet 2.3 so that said envelope remainder can be very easily telescoped upwardly off the can tiers, exposing allv of .the can tiers and the separatingv tier sheets 21 for handling.

While example illustrations of the packaging wrapper and the package formed therefrom are provided herein 1t is to be understood that the disclosedl features be variously modified without departing from the spmt'and scope of the invention as deiined in the appended claims'.

We claim: g

l. A can package comprising multiple superposed tiers of cans with each tier composed of multiple rows of cans, a tier sheet between each pair of superposed can tiers, a bottom closure sheet, a top closurevsheet, said sheets traversing the axesA of the cans and being engaged by top and bottom ends of cans, and an encasing paperenvelopeicomprising an upstanding tube having marginal-edges folded over and sealed against each of said bottom and top sheets, and a reinforcing strip" extending about one end of the package interiorly of the tube and adjacent an endj thereof in position for angling. over flanges of cans Y at said end and assuring against tearing of said can 'anges through the wall of the paper envelope, said strip being adhered to the wall of the paperv tube throughout a portion only of the width of the strip, `the non-adhered portion of the strip being disposed toward said adjacent end of the tube and free to move rela-tive to the opposing portions' of the tube` at the particular endof the package. Y

2. A can package comprising multiple superposed tiers of cans with each tier composed-,of multiple rows of cans, a tier sheet between each pair of superposed can tiers, a bottoml closure sheet, a top closure sheet, said sheets traversing the axes of the cans and beingi engaged by top and bottom ends of cans, and anencasing paper .envelope comprising an upstanding tube having marginal edges folded over and-sealed against each. of.l said bottom and top sheets, anda reinforcing strip extending about one end of the package interiorly of the tube and adjacent an end thereof in position for angling over flanges of cans at said end and assuring against tearing" of said can flanges through the wall of the paper envelope, said strip having a longitudinally extending fold facilitating score line intermediately of the width thereof and being adhered to the wall of the paper tube throughout the portion of the strip to that side of the score line extending away from said adjacent end of the tube and being free to move relative to the overfolded marginal edges of the tube and the cans at the portion outwardly of the score line and angled over the can flanges.

3. A can package comprising multiple superposed tiers of cans with each tier composed of multiple rows of cans, a tier sheet between each pair of superposed can tiers, a bottom closure sheet, a top closure sheet, and an encasing paper envelope comprising an upstanding tube having marginal edges folded over and sealed against each of said bottom and top sheets, end margin portions at tWo opposed sides at each of said top and bottom being folded over and adhered to the particular closure sheet, and the remaining opposed end margin portions being folded over and adhered to the particular closure sheet and folded over and adhered also to the first mentioned folded over end margin portions to provide at each corner a triple thickness triangular corner overfold defined by two diverging fold lines and the edge extremity connecting said fold lines, and there being included inwardly of each said triple thickness portion a triangular single thickness of the overfolded end margin portion adhered to the underlying end margin portion and forming a dust excluding seal over said connecting edge extremity.

4. A can packaging wrapper comprising an elongated 6 rectangle of paper` having along each lo'ng side marginal edge a glue stripe, said stripesbein'g traversed at one end by a' glue stripe extending along the marginal edge at said p one end, andav r'einfor`cing`v stripe adhered to the wrapperand extending full length of one of the side stripes in 'position forfolding' over' and protecting can flanges in a finished package, said reinforcing Vstrip being adhered to they wrapper throughout` a portion only of the width of'fl'ie' strip so that the remainder of the strip Width will be Vfree to move relativev to the wrapper during the folding ofthe strip over canfilanges'in the making up of a package, one of the side stripes of glue extending in part ov'er' the reinforcing strip width and in part over the wrapper beside the` reinforcing strip.` f

` 5.. Apcan packaging' wrapper comprising an elongated rectangle of paper having along each long side marginal `edgea glue stripe, said stripes being traversed at one end bygluefstripe extending along the marginal edgev at said oneed, and. a' reinforcing strip adhered tov the wrapper andx extending full. length of one of. the side stripes in position' for folding over and protecting can flanges in a finished package, said reinforcing strip being adhered to the' wrapper throughout aportion only ofthe width of the -stip'jso that the remainder of the strip width will be free toniove relative 4to the wrapper during the folding ofthek strip over can flanges inv the making up of a package, one of the side stripesl of glue extending in part over the vnon-adhe'r'ed Width of reinforcing 'strip and in"` part over the wrapper beside, the reinforcing strip.

6l ,Af can package. comprisingJ multiple superposed tiers of cans with each tier composed of multiple rows of cans",V a`ti`er sheet between each pair of superposed can tiers,.a bottom closure sheet, a top`closure sheet, said sheetsV traversing -the axes` of the cans and being engaged by'ftopl and bottoni ends ofcans', and an encasing paper envelope comprising an upstanding tube having marginal edges folded overA and sealed against each of said bottom and-top sheets, and a flat paper rig strip extending about the package interiorly of the tube with the lower edge of'said strip disposed as a tearing edge closely adjacent the bottom sheet and adapted to be ripped out to free the remainder of the envelope from said bottom sheet and the marginal edges folded over and sealed threagainst so thatl said envelope remainder can be telescoped olf., the superposed can tiers and leave them wholly exposed" andsupportedI on the bottom closure sheet. i

7. A can package as defined in claim 6 in which the envelope includes an upright side seam into which the rip strip extends, the end of the strip extending into the seam being free of the underlying paper surface throughout the full width of the seam to permit insertion of a finger under said strip end and ready grasping thereof preparatory to the tearing out of the strip.

8. A canpackage comprising multiple superposed tiers of cans with each tier composed of multiple rows of cans, a tier -sheet between each pair of superposed can tiers, a bottom closure sheet, a top`closure sheet, said sheets traversing the axes of the cans and being engaged by top and bottom ends of cans, and an encasingpaper envelope comprising an upstanding tube having marginal edges folded over and sealed against each of said bottom and top sheets, and a reinforcing strip extending about one end of the package interiorly of the tube and adjacent an end thereof in position for angling over llanges of cans at said end and assuring against tearing of said can flanges through the wall of the paper envelope, said strip having a longitudinally extending fold facilitating score line intermediately of the width thereof and being adhered to the wall of the paper tube throughout the portion of the strip to that side of the `score line extending away from said adjacent end of the tube and being free to move relative to the overfolded marginal edges of the tube and the cans at the portion outwardly of the score line and angled over the can llanges, said package also including a side seam and a at paper rip stripextending about the package interiorly of the tube and into said seam with the lower edge of said strip as a tearing edgeV adjacent the 'bottom sheet, said rip ystrip being adapted to be ripped out to free the remainder of the envelope from said bottom sheet and the marginal edges folded over and sealed thereagainst and being spaced with relation to the reinforcing strip so as to assure placement of the reinforcing strip for angling over can anges at the top of the package when the rip strip is placed opposite can bottom end portions at the bottom of the package.

9. A can package comprising multiple superposed tiers of cans with each tier composed of multiple rows of cams, a tier sheet between eachpair of superposed can tiers, a bottom closure sheet, a top closure sheet, said sheets traversing the axes of the cans and being engaged by top and bottom ends of cans, and an encasing paper envelope comprising an upstanding tube having marginal edges folded over and sealed against each of said bottom and top sheets, and a reinforcing strip extending about one end of the package interiorly of the tube and adjacent an end thereof in position for angling over flanges of cans at said end and assuring against tearing of said can flanges through the Wall of the paper envelope,"said strip having a` longitudinally extending fold facilitating score line intermediately of the width thereof and being adhered to the wall of the paper tube throughout the portion of the strip to that side of the score line extend'- ing away from said adjacent end of the tube and being free to move relative to the ove'rfolded marginal edges throughout the full width of the seam to permitA insertion of a finger under said strip end andV ready grasping thereof preparatory to the tearing out of the rip strip.

10., A canppackag'e comprising multiple superposed tiers of `cranswith each tier composed of multiple rows ofcans, aV tirer sheet'between each pair of superposed can tiers, a bottom closure sheet, atop closure Sheet, said sheets traversing the axes of the cans and being engaged by top and bottom `ends of cans, and an encasing paper envelope comprising an upstanding tube having marginal edges folded over and sealed against each of said bottom and top sheets, and a dat paper rip strip extending about the package interiorly Vof the tube with the lower edge of said strip disposed as a tearing edge closely adjacent the bottom sheet and adapted to be ripped Vout to free the remainder of the envelope from saidl bottom sheet and the marginal'edges folded over Y and sealed thereagainstso'that said envelope remainder ofthe tube and the cans at the portion outwardly of the score line and angled over the can flanges, said package also Vincluding a side seam and a at paper rip strip extending about the package interiorly of the tube and into said seam with the lower edge of said strip as a tearing edge adjacent the bottom sheet, said rip strip being adapted to be ripped out to free the'remainder of the envelope from said bottom sheet and the marginal edges folded over and sealed thereagainst and being spaced with relation to the reinforcing strip so as to assure placement of the reinforcing strip for angling over can flanges at the top of the package when the rip strip is placed opposite can bottom end portions at the bottom of therpackage, the end of the rip strip extending into the seam being free of the underlying paper surface can be telescoped off the superposed can tiers and leave them wholly exposed and supported on the bottom closureV sheet, anda reinforcing strip extending about the upper end of the package interiorly of the tube in position for angling over anges of cans at the upper end of the package and assuring against tearing of the Vcan flanges through the wall of the paper envelope and also serving as a reinforced grasping portion during the telescoping v of the envelope upwardly olf` the cans after ripping out of the rip stn'p.

References Cited in the Viile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stokes Dec. 9,

1,784,317 1930 1,948,615 Clark Feb. 27, 1934 2,005,351 Rosenblatt June 18, 1935 2,021,860 VKelly Nov. 19, 1935 2,157,194 Webber et al. May 9, 1939 2,187,382 vLibbey Jan. 16, 1940 2,262,111 AMooreV Nov. 11, 1941 2,308,197 Meyer Jan. 12, 1943 2,320,143 Johnson May 25, 1943 2,445,152 VPoole July 13, 1948 2,517,801 Roush Aug. 8, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany VMay 25, 

